Staff Optometrist

About the role

The staff optometrist for all Gulf Coast Veterans Healthcare System eye clinics provides comprehensive eye care to include but not limited to the management of eye disease, consultations, and emergency triage services during daytime hours. This clinic also serves as a training site for optometry students with educational affiliations at UAB School of Optometry.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive eye care to include but not limited to the management of eye disease, consultations, and emergency triage services.
• Provides quality patient care by consistently demonstrating expertise in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients.
• Provides other clinical services as assigned consistent with clinical privileges as assigned by the Chief of Eye Section or local Supervisory Optometrist.
• Participates in various facility programs designed to enhance and improve the delivery of patient care services and quality improvement as assigned by the Eye Section Chief, Supervisor Optometrist, or Chief of Optometry.
• Stays informed of the latest developments in the management and treatment of diseases and illness through continuing medical education, both formal and informal.
• Participates as a peer reviewer when requested during consultations.

Requirements

• All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens.
• The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.
• This is an Open Continuous Announcement and may be extended beyond the current closing date until the position is filled. Eligible applications will be referred at regular intervals, as additional vacancies occur and/or on an as-needed basis during the duration of the announcement.
• Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
  Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
  Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
  CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
  Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
  Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Qualifications

• To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement.
• Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation.
• Basic Requirements:
• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.) in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38, United States Code (U.S.C). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens according to 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a).
• Education. Degree of Doctor of Optometry resulting from a course of education in optometry. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools or colleges approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are United States and Canadian schools or colleges of optometry listed as accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE), in the list published for the year in which the course of study was completed.
• Licensure/Registration: Optometrists must possess a current, full and unrestricted license to practice optometry, and maintain a current registration in a state, territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia that requires successful passage of all parts of National Board of Examiners in Optometry intended for basic licensure. The Optometrist must maintain current registration in the state of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active, current licensure.
• Residency Training or Comparable Experience: Optometrists must have successfully completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of VA in an accredited post-graduate training program, or have comparable experience, as described below:
• (1) Approved residencies are those with accredited or within pre-accredited status by the ACOE, in the list published for the year the residency was completed. OR
• (2) Two years of licensed clinical optometric practice in the United States consisting of active involvement in the management of medically complex patients.